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yinviTED STATES :PATENT OFFICE.

D. A. STILES, OF WEST MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

PAPER-FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 1'?,526, dated June 9, 1857.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, D. A. STILEs, of West Meriden, in the county of New I-Iaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bill and Let-ter Files; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a horizontal section through the line as, 0c, in Fig. 2, of a bill and letter file constructed after my invention. Fig. 2, a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3, a transverse section of the same.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures, indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to an improvement in the bill and letter file patented in 1850 by IVm. A. Collard, and is designed to render the same more useful and convenient, and neater in appearance.

My improvement consists in the combination of a double selfacting spring catch with the upper surface of the top or follower of the bill holder. By this improvement the convenience and utility of the holder is greatly increased, as the top or follower is retained in any position to which it is raised; whereas in other holders the top or follower is continually pressed down upon the lingers of the operator, thus impeding an examination of the contents of the holder.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.,

A, represents the rectangular boX or bill receptacle of oblong form. Its sides A1, A1 are made with two walls so that a hollow space is formed for the insertion of thin flat springs B, B, as shown. The springs B, B, are of the form shown in Fig. 2, and rest on seats b, Y), which are similar in form to them, and serve for preventing them getting out of place, but allow of their being straightened.

C, is the loose top or follower of the box A; it is provided with two guide pins or hooks c, c, which pass through vertical slots al, d, in the inner walls of the sides A1, A1, and play freely up and down therein. To these pins or hooks the springs B, are attached, as shown and as the loose top is raised, they are raised at the center of their length and caused to straighten and thus eX ert greater force against the top, and thus insure its descent when set free.

D, D, represent a double self-acting spring catch, combined with and arranged on the upper side of the loose top, as shown. The bolts of the catches passing loosely through guides e, e, under the guide pins or hooks c, c, into the slots d, d, and bearing against the inner sides of the outer walls. By eX- amining the drawing it will be seen that the spiral spring E, which actuates the catches is arranged in two short barrels f, f, which keep it in place and prevent binding. The barrels f, f, are inserted in the ends of a tube g, and move freely in and out.

it, la, are holes formed in the outer walls of the sides A1, A1, near the top. They serve for receiving the bolts 0f the spring-catches when the loose top is raised to the position shown ip red.

Operation: To operate this bill file, so as to insert bills or letters, it is simply necessary to raise the loose top the proper distance and hold it so until the bills or letters are inserted, and then to let it free. And to operate it so as to examine the letters or bills, the loose top mustbe raised to the position shown in red so as to bring the bolts of the spring catches in line with the holes z., it, and thus allow the spring E, to force them into the said holes in a manner to cause them to hold the loose top elevated as shown in red. To set the top free and allow the flat springs B, B, to operate upon it in a manner to bring it forcibly down upon the bills or letters, the fingers are pressed against the ends of the barrels so as to move the barrels inward and thereby withdraw the bolts of the spring catches out of the holes 7L.

I distinctly disclaim the use of springs for holding down the follower. I also disclaim all and every portion of my device which are seen in Collards patent aforesaid, or in any other bill holder. I likewise disclaim the broad use of spring catches for sustaining objects. But the combination of a double self-acting spring catch D, D, with the top or follower C, of a bill holder, in the manner herein described, is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a new combination The combination of the double self-acting and is of importance and Value, so fafr as respring catch D7 D, with the top or follower lates to that kind of instruments herein men- C, as herein set forth.

tioned. D. A. STILES.

Therefore, what I claim as new in bill Witnesses: holders, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- EDWARD F. GILLETT,

ent, is: HIRAM FOSTER. 

